Department of Immunology at University of Pittsburgh

University of Pittsburgh	UPMC	Health Sciences @ Pitt	School of Medicine

	Department of Immunology

Academic Resources

Employment and Training Opportunities

Events

Flow Facility

E1040
Thomas E. Starzl Biomedical Science Tower
Phone: 412-383-9737
Fax: 412-383-8098

Faculty

Olivera J. Finn , Ph.D.
Distinguished Professor, Chair
E1044 BST (Office)
E1001, E1002, E1018 BST (Lab)
Pittsburgh, PA
Phone: 412.648.9816
Email: ojfinn@pitt.edu
Fax: 412.648.7042
Faculty Research Interests

Research Interests

The projects pursued in this laboratory center on the topics of T cell mediated tumor immunity and signal transduction pathways in effector T cells. Tumor specific T cell lines and clones are derived from patients with breast and pancreatic malignancies and used as reagents to help identify tumor specific antigens. This has already led to the identification of a mucin molecule MUC1, expressed by these tumors in an altered glycosylation form capable of stimulating T cell immunity. The knowledge of the tumor associated epitope provides the basis for the generation of synthetic and recombinant tumor vaccines, currently tested in the laboratory and in the clinic. To complement the in vitro studies with human cells, we have recently added several MUC1 and HLA transgenic mouse models.
A related effort in the laboratory is directed towards discovery of new tumor antigens. We are using biochemical purification of tumor-derived peptides and proteins and human dendritic cells to prime naive T cells. These T cells in turn serve to functionally identify new tumor antigens. In the last year we have isolated several tumor peptides and proteins that are good candidates for tumor specific antigens. Effector T cells which we study in tumors respond to antigen stimulation by activating several intracellular signaling pathways. We are escpecially interested in the PKC pathway as a means of promoting and controlling T cell activation and positive and negative selection during T cell development. We have generated several strains of PKC transgenic mice to explore some of these questions. A most interesting development in this area of our research is that trangenic mice that are not capable of negative selection and are immunocomromized from birth, develop many different tumors. We believe that they will be a good model to study immune surveillance, a concept that has not been experimentally explored for the lack of appropriate models.

Education

Ph.D. - Stanford University (1980)
Postdoc - Stanford University (1980-1982)

Academic Affiliation

Distinguished Professor and Chair, Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Program Leader, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute Immunology Program

Publications

Turner MS, Cohen, PA, Finn OJ. Lack of effective MUC1 tumor antigen specific immunity in MUC1 transgenic mice results from a T helper/T regulatory cell imbalance that can be corrected by adoptive transfer of wild type Th cells. J Immunol 178(5): 2787-2793. 2007.
Carlos C, Dong HF, Howard OM, Oppenheim J, Hanisch F, Finn OJ. Human tumor antigen MUC1 is chemotactic for Immature dendritic cells and elicits maturation but does not promote Th1 type immunity. J Immunol 175 (3):1628-35. 2005.
Alajez NM, Schmielau J, Alter MD, Cascio M, Finn OJ. Therapeutic potential of a tumor-specific, MHC-unrestricted T-cell receptor expressed on effector cells of the innate and adaptive immune system through bone marrow transduction and immune reconstitution. Blood 105(12): 4583-9. 2005.
Ramanathan RK, Lee KM, McKolanis JM, Hiltbold E, Schraut W, Moser AJ, Warnick E, Whiteside T, Osborne J, Kim H, Day R, Troetschel M, Finn OJ Phase I study of a MUC1 vaccine composed of different doses of MUC1 peptide with SB-AS2 adjuvant in resected and locally advanced pancreatic cancer. Cancer Immunol Immunother 54, (3): 254-264. 2005.
Vlad A, Muller S, Cudic M, Paulsen H, Laszlo O Jr, Hanisch FG, Finn OJ. Complex carbohydrates are not removed during processing of glycoproteins by dendritic cells: processing of tumor antigen MUC1 glycopeptides for presentation to MHC-Class II restricted T cells. J Exp Med 11:1435-1446. 2002.
Kao H, Marto JA, Hoffman TK, Shabanowitz J, Finkelstein SD, Whiteside TL, Hunt DF, Finn OJ. Identification of cyclin B1 as a shared human epithelial tumor-assciated antigen recognized by T cells. J Exp Med 194(9):1313-1323. 2001.

PubMed Link

Grants

Title: T-cell immunity to epithelial tumor mucins.
Agency: NIH
Role: P.I.
Funding Period: 1991-2008
Title: Dendritic cells - Biology and therapy - Core A
Agency: NIH
Role: Project Director/Core Leader
Funding Period: 2004-2009
Title: Dendritic cells - Biology and therapy - Project 2
Agency: NIH
Role: Project Director/Project 2 Leader
Funding Period: 2004-2009
Title: SPORE in Lung Cancer
Agency: NIH
Role: Project Leader, Project 2: Cyclin B1 Immunotherapy
Funding Period: 2006-2011
Title: Training in Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Tumor Rejection
Agency: NIH
Role: P.I.
Funding Period: 2004-2009
Title: Immune Markers of Permalignant Disease Consortium
Agency: Dana Foundation
Role: P.I.
Funding Period: 2004-2008
Title: MUC-1 related cancer immunity
Agency: NIH
Role: Co-P.I.
Funding Period: 2006-2011
Title: In Vivo PIB Amyloid: Imaging Normals, MCI & Dementia
Agency: NIH
Role: Co-investigator
Funding Period: 2008-2010
Title: MUC1 vaccines for the prevention of colitis-associated colon cancer
Agency: Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation
Role: Co-investigator
Funding Period: 2007-2009

Lab Personnel

Research Associates
John McKolanis, Ph.D.
Sharmila Pejawar-Gaddy, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Associate.
Katja Engelmann, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Scholar
Andreea Negroiu, M.D.

Staff Scientist
Pamela Beatty, Ph.D.

Research III
Jia Xue
Ning Wang

Visiting Scholars
Seung Chul Heo, M.D., Ph.D.
Lixin Zhang, M.D., Ph.D.

Graduate Student Researchers
Sean Ryan
Laura Vella

My Gallery